User privacy has always been an inevitable topic when it comes to the app development process. Love them or hate them, Apple does actually care deeply about their app users’ privacy. After all, Apple sold an estimated 189.7 million iPhone units in 2020, making it one of the most popular phones on the market. They have stood up to a range of business, political and legal pressures to subvert end users privacy on iPhones over the years and now with the latest version of their iOS mobile operating system due out later this year, they are taking the support for end users privacy concerns up another notch. This article explains the 3 key ways iOS14 will heavily impact the iOS app development process and user privacy.
1. Safari Privacy Report
Safari will extend Apple’s existing Intelligent Tracking Prevention technology to provide the app user with even more control around who knows where they have been and when, digitally speaking. This feature will provide the app user of iOS apps with a list of what cross site tracking systems are in place and what they are being used for and a new section in the phone setting app will allow the end user to block and opt out of individual systems and sites.
This change is so massive, that facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has said in the Facebook earnings report this month, that this feature will rip the guts out of the facebook advertising revenue by undermining the ability to provide targeted advertising.
What does that mean for iOS app developers?
Before end users are tracked across apps and websites on their iOS devices, they will be notified by the iOS system saying that personalised ads will be delivered to them. It is obvious that Apple is putting more emphasis on app developers to take security of user privacy to the next level. Make sure to engage with a trusted iOS app development agency to ensure your business app is built aligning with all the latest data security regulations.
2. App Store Privacy Report
In line with the new iOS features, changes to the Apple App Store will report and make very public, the same information, allowing app users to clearly see the underlying business models for some apps for what they truly are, data collection devices for advertising. Whilst it is unclear at this stage how many app users will care about the amount of data apps like TikTok collect on them, this level of transparency will certainly provide app users with some insight into what is actually happening.
What does that mean for iOS app developers?
iOS app developers now need to be more transparent about the data their apps collect, allowing the app users to gain more control over their data and security. When developing an monetised app, businesses need to give more clarity about the data apps collect in the background.
3. Approximate Location
Location Based Services (LBS) are ubiquitous now, with many business models built around knowing exactly where the end user is at any given point in time. Apps from Uber, to Deliveroo, through to Facebook and others, all collect user location data for often key business reasons, but also for key advertising reasons. iOS currently allows end users to turn on or off their location sharing with individual apps, however, iOS 14 will be providing end users with even more control over the user of their location data by introducing a third option, “Share Approximate Location”.
What does that mean for iOS app developers?
This new option will undoubtedly catch many iOS app developers and app users by surprise. The exact internal workings of the service are not known at the time of writing, other than the fact that Apple has stated that it will be applying a “fuzziness” to the location to report location as being within a “ten mile radius”. This is clearly a game changer.
This, like all things technology related, is why it’s important to turn to a trusted app development agency who understands the full ramifications of the technology space you are entering. Digital8 is an Australian-based app development and digital marketing agency. Their technical consultants guide businesses’ app strategy with a focus on user experience from ideation to development. Their experienced team of Australian app developers specialise in building Android and iOS apps using React Native.
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